Sleepyhead

The girl fiddles with her glasses some more before continuing, "The kingdom has long been—"

"I'll explain it." Alec's voice cuts across hers. He leans back in his seat, looking up at the ceiling. " It all started sixteen years ago..."

~~~

"Why has a maid summoned me?" Alec — younger, with strands of blonde hair mingling amongst gray — asks as he follows the maid down a hallway of the royal castle.

The maid stops at a door. She doesn't answer. She simply opens it.

Inside awaited him a small, yet welcoming room. A large canopied bed sits against the right wall, across from a marbled fireplace. Beside the fireplace, a grand bookshelf extending all he way to far wall. On the far wall, tall windows stand half-covered by red curtains hemmed with golden tassels.

"Alec Durhand?" A beautiful woman calls his name from the bed.

"Yes, that's me." Alec approaches and kneels before her bed.

The lady, with long, golden-blonde waves spilling across the pastel-red sheets, raises her hand. Her arm, shimmering in a white nightgown, stretches toward him. "Stand, shake my hand."

"Your Majesty, I couldn't. That would be a disrespe—"

"Stand." She cuts him off.

Alec does as he's asked.

"Please sit." She gestures to a red upholstered chair in the corner.

The Queen nods at her maid at the door, and the door slowly closes shut.

The latching of the door — the last noise as silence falls over the two.

"So, why have I been summoned here, Your Majesty?" Alec, desperate to break the silence.

"Call me by my name, Anthea. And apologies, just give me a moment." Anthea says, fanning her face.

"In short, I would like a bodyguard. I feel I'm not safe in this castle," she eventually explains. 

Alec leans forward in his chair, eyes widening. "Your Maj— Anthea, are you sure that is something you should be telling me? Have you told the King this?"

"I doubt he cares." Anthea shakes her head.

"Again, I don't think these are things I should be hearing." Alec begins to stand.

"Please! Stay seated." Anthea throws her hand out at him.

Alec does as he's asked.

"Ever since he brought me here, the only thing he ever told me was how disappointed he was that I had yet to bear him an heir. Now he only visits with the midwife to check on the baby." She rubs her stomach.

"You're pregnant?" Alec blurts out, then covers his mouth.

"Yes. Just found out a few weeks ago." Her voice falters. "I fear for not just my sake but the baby's and no one in the castle believes me."

"With all respect, I'm not a bodyguard, I'm a knight."

"You're aware of the legend of the kingdom. The Durhand family has always been the protector of the royal family. It is only recently that they broke off and formed the Holy Knights." Anthea explains.

"Yes, I am familiar."

"And you are capable of all of the feats the legends say — that you can strike down ten men as easily as one, that you have the strength of a bear?" Anthea leans forward, eyes eager.

Alec lets out a nervous sigh and averts his eyes. "Yes, those are the rumors."

"Well, this may be childish to admit, but I had a dream recently that a powerful evil was going to strike me down, and that I would need a powerful bodyguard."

"So, this is about a dream," Alec replies unimpressed.

"No, no, certainly not! While one of my maids was testing my food, she suddenly collapsed, Her last word to me was 'poison'. Yet everyone in the castle believes she died of heart problems."

"Does the King believe you?"

"No." Anthea's gaze drops to her sheets.

"Well, Your Highness — I mean, Anthea — I am flattered you would ask for my aid, but the Holy Knights have just received new recruits. As the commander, it's my duty to train them."

"Please! You could just pretend you're sick... or something." She stifles a laughs after the statement, but her eyes start to glisten.

Alec can't help staring at those blue eyes. They sparkle like crystals with tears. "Alright. I'll do it."

>>>

Alec stands atop a wooden box in the vast dirt yard behind the castle, staring down at the many rows of Holy Knight.

"Remember, cadets: as Holy Knight recruits, you are members of the most elite force the kingdom of Sagia has to offer, reporting directly to the King. Do not sully the Kingdom's name... With that being said, I'd like to announce that Sir Randolf Hann is now second-in-command and will be leading the training regimen."

"Me?" Randolf jumps, clattering in his armor, startled.

"Yes, you showed much valor in the recent skirmish with Aurelith. I feel you are most worthy."

"Yes, but why am I leading the training? Can't you do that?" Randolf objects.

Alec coughs. "I have come down with an illness, and need to return to my chambers and meet with a doctor. I may not be part of your regimens for a while. I do apologize."

>>>

The same maid once again leads Alec down the hall, stopping at the Queen's chambers.

"So, how did it go? Did you convince them?" Anthea asks as Alec steps in, still sitting in her bed in a silky white nightgown.

"Yes, I did."

"And what did you say to them?" Anthea asks, raising her voice curiously.

"I... told them I was sick."

"Oh, just like I suggested!" Anthea lightly claps her hands.

"Yes, just like you suggested," Alec replies half-heartedly as he sits down in the chair.

"Anthea, if I may ask — I'm supposed to be your bodyguard, but all we've done is sit in this room. I'm not doing much guarding."

"I’ve often been bedridden my whole life."

"Oh, I'm sorry. But why would the King choose you to wed?"

"My, you’ve really gotten comfortable these past few days."

"Forgive me." Alec hops off the chair and kneels.

"Do sit... I was only kidding. But — to answer your question — the King and Prime Minister happened to come through my village during a time I wasn't bedridden. While I was helping hang clothes in the front yard, a lavish carriage rode to a stop at the front yard. The King ran out and declared that I am now to be his queen. I thought this would be a wonderful thing... how wrong I was."

"What do you mean?" Alec asks, confused.

"My one condition for coming to the castle was that he aid my village, which faced a food shortage after last year’s failed wheat harvest. He agreed, but I’ve heard nothing since. He never speaks to me — I’m left in this room every day, my only company my maids. I’m beginning to think I am nothing but a doll to him. He comes in with the midwife, and all he does is look at me."

A stillness settles over the room. Alec leans back in his chair, unsure what to say. The quiet is broken only by the soft patter of tears falling onto Anthea’s sheets.

"Looks like the sun is setting... should we get to bed?" Anthea finally speaks.

"You really want me to sleep in here again?" Alec gets up with a sigh.

"How can you guard me if you aren't in the room?" Anthea tilts her head, a playful smile on her face.

>>>

Alec lies on the red-and-gold rug before the bed, his head resting on a thin pillow and a similarly thin blanket draped over his body.

"Are you still awake?" Anthea asks.

"Yes," Alec responds.

"Why did you agree to my silly request?"

"It is not silly at all." Alec sits up. He can barely make out her figure across the dark room. "But... if I'm being honest... your eyes reminded me of my mother’s when she begged me not to join the Holy Knights."

"Is that not the Durhand family’s duty?"

"It is. But my mother was hoping for a girl. My father always yelled at her for praying for a daughter."

"A good-spirited yell, yes? Like a joke?" Anthea asks softly.

"No. It wasn’t."

>>>

"Is she all right?" the maid asks, speeding after Alec.

"No — yes — I don't know!" Alec stammers, rushing to Anthea's door and swinging it open.

Anthea lies in her bed, asleep. Her breathing is sharp, her face flushed red.

"She wouldn’t wake! I even yelled her name!" Alec shouts.

"Her fever is flaring up." The maid rests her hand on Anthea’s forehead. "I’ll get her medicine." She sprints out the door.

Alec grabs the chair from the corner and sits down next to her, bouncing his leg.
He wonders why he can’t sit still.

The maid returns with a glass bottle and spoon. She tips a spoonful of green liquid into Anthea’s mouth.

"She should be better soon. Get me if she doesn’t wake up." The maid shuts the door.

>>>

Alec feels a soft, hand caressing his head. Horror fills him as he realizes he had fallen asleep leaning on the Queen's bed.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." Anthea smiles.

Alec springs from his chair, knocking it over. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty!" He drops to his knee.

"Please, Alec! It’s okay, stop with the formalities!"